THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

  Hebrews 9:28                                                                                        Pastor Rick Jackson

 

In the Bradford Baptist Church Confession of Faith it reads, “We believe in the visible, personal and premillennial return of Jesus Christ,” but what exactly does that mean? The first coming of Jesus, God incarnate, covered a period of approximately 33 years. The second coming will cover approximately 7 years or 1007 years if you include the millennium as part of that coming. Of the 7 years there are 2 major parts- the Rapture and the Touch-down Coming. Seven years separate these two events but both of them will be visible, personal and premillennial.

 

I. THE RAPTURE – Rapture is not a Biblical word but it is a Biblical teaching (much like “Trinity”, “local church,” and “vicarious death”.

 

1. The Rapture is Visible but to Christians Only [Titus 2:13, 1 Jn. 3:2, 1 Cor. 15:51ff]

 

2. The Rapture is Personal – Christ Himself will return, not a representative [Acts 1:1-11, 1 Th. 4:13-17, 1 Jn. 3:2]

 

3. The Rapture is Premillennial [1 Th. 4:18-5:11]

 

-premillennial means before “the Millennium” [1000 year reign of Christ on earth]

-postmillennialists believe the Rapture is after the Millennium which they think the church will usher in as things get better and better [2 Tm. 3:1-13]

-amillennialists don’t believe in a millennium [Rev. 20:2-7] “aww- there ain’t going be no millennium”

 

II. THE TOUCHDOWN COMING [Zech. 14:1-4]

 

1. The Touchdown Coming is Visible [Mt. 24:21-31, Rev. 1:7]

 

2. The Touchdown Coming is Personal [Rev. 19:11-16]

 

3. The Touchdown Coming is Premillennial [Rev. 19:17-20:6]

III. THE IMPACT OF THE TRUTH OF THE SECOND COMING

 

1. Be Ready [Mt. 24:44]

 

2. Be Right [1 Jn. 2:28]

 

3. Be Real [2 Tm. 4:8]